10 MORE Smart English Words to Use at Work — Part 2
Holy smokes! In July, I did a lesson on 10 Smart English Words to Use at Work and it immediately became our most popular lesson ever on YouTube. 🔥So today I want to share 10 more and here’s why:
Adding advanced vocabulary to your daily English can help you communicate professionally, sound confident & clear, and be more prepared for any situation. That’s why I want to help you add 10 more smart English words to your daily English.
But… I have one caution: don’t overuse them.
I see a lot of students try to use too many high-level words in 1 sentence or in a couple of sentences. This sounds unnatural. It’s best to use these words sparingly, which means only sometimes.
With these 10 smart English words, you’ll get example sentences so you know exactly how to use them and the opportunity to practice.
Are you ready? Let’s go.
More smart English words to build your advanced vocabulary.
Lesson by Annemarie
10 More Smart English Words for Work for Right Now
Number 1: Adept
to be highly skilled or well trained in a particular discipline; an expert
Example: I want to help you become an adept English speaker.
Number 2: Ambivalent
uncertainty when choosing between two options
Example: I’m pretty ambivalent about dinner tonight. Both Korean and Italian sound good.
Number 3: Deviate
to stray or go off course
Example: The deadline for this project is tomorrow. Now is not the time to deviate from our strategy.
Number 4: Fiasco
a total failure
Example: Honestly, this partnership has been a total fiasco from the start. It’s time to rethink whether we want to work with this company.
Number 5: Flabbergasted
surprised ; astonished and somewhat speechless.
Example: I was flabbergasted watching him explode in the meeting like that. It was truly inappropriate.
Number 6: Impeccable
flawless; free from or incapable of fault or blame
Example: My boss is an impeccable dresser.
Number 7: Kibosh
to stop something
Example: We had to put the kibosh on our daughter’s spending while she’s at college — she was buying way more than she could afford.
Number 8: Egalitarian
a belief in the equality of all people
Example: My friend says he works at a very egalitarian workplace — everyone is on a first-name basis and everyone has the same office, even the boss.
Number 9: Zealous
enthusiastic, often to the point of fanatical
Example: My boss can be a bit zealous when it comes to staying on brand.
Number 2: A Catch-22:
a lose-lose situation
This comes from a book with the same title, ‘Catch-22‘ by Joseph Heller.
Similar idioms are:
- to be between a rock and a hard place
- damned if you do, damned if you don’t
Example: I’m in a real Catch-22. I can’t find anyone to cover my shift at work but if I cancel my medical appointment, I can’t get a new one scheduled for 2 months. I don’t know what to do.
What’s your favorite smart English word?
Now it’s time for you to practice these smart English words. My favorite 2 words from this list are flabbergasted and Catch-22. What about you?
- Choose your 2 favorites and try using them in your own sentence. And remember: keep your sentences simple.
Don’t try to use too many of these words together because it won’t sound natural. Instead, I want you to sound smart and professional, so using simple language with an occasional advanced-level word is perfect.
And if you missed my first lesson this topic, you can get it here.
Have a fantastic Confident English Wednesday!
~ Annemarie
Get the Confidence to Say What You Want in English
Follow my 3-step solution to speak English with clarity, fluency, and freedom so you can say what you want with confidence.
You'll also get my Confident English lessons delivered by email every Wednesday and occasional information about available courses. You can unsubscribe any time.
More Like This
#336: English Conversations on How Much and How Many | Advanced Vocabulary
Struggling to describe amounts naturally in English? If you keep using “some” and “a lot” in conversations, you might sound repetitive or unclear. In this lesson, you’ll learn precise, natural English expressions to talk about how much and how many.
How to Say No in English Politely (Without Feeling Guilty)
Struggling to say no without guilt? Learn how to say no in English politely—at work and in social situations—without stress. Get confident, professional phrases to refuse requests clearly and kindly.
#335: How to Explain Your Opinions Clearly in English — The Best Professional Connectors
Struggling to express your opinions clearly in English? Learn how to use English connectors to improve English fluency, business English communication, and professional speaking skills.
How to Finally Speak English with Confidence — Even If You’ve Tried Everything
If you’ve been working hard but still don’t feel confident speaking, there’s a reason for it. And here’s how it can change.
How to Be Interesting in English Conversations (Even If You’re Shy)
Do you want to be interesting in English conversations? The good news is, it’s easier than you think & the secret to it might surprise you. I’ll show you how in 6 easy steps.
#334: How to Group Words and Pause for Natural-Sounding English
Struggling to speak English naturally? Discover how to group words effectively using thought groups to improve your English fluency and sound more natural. Learn how to pause and improve pronunciation to make your English speech smooth and easy to understand.
© Copyright 2014-2025 Speak Confident English | Privacy Policy | Terms & Disclaimer | Online Class Policies
My favorites two words of this lesson was fiasco and flabbergasted .
I was flabbergasted when i saw her first time
mikka might have a fiasco on her hands if she doesn’t act quickly.
My favorites two words of this lesson was ambivalent and impeccable.
Sometimes I’m feel ambivalent when I need to take a fast decision in the design phase of my architectural projects.
I do my best to get an impeccable construction drawings sets.
Awesome, Edward. You did a great job using 2 new words from this list!
1. Steve Jobs must be an impeccable public speaker.
2. I believe everyone experience at least A real Catch 22 in their life. Me too, and that time I have no better choice than to ask for advice from an external person.
Nice job with impeccable and Catch-22, Van Ho. These are great examples of how to use those words.
Being at the phone so often , checking social media, emails etc. is driving me crazy! I need to put the kibosh on it.
I need to concentrate and focus on the Medical Interpreter test I am taking soon. If I don’t change how I am using my time it is going to be a total fiasco.
Love these examples, Susie!! I need to put the kibosh on social media too. 🤣
My favorite words from today’s lesson are ambivalent and zealous. I identify closely with these 2 terms. When it comes to making an informed decision, especially under pressure, I am ambivalent. I also tend to get zealous with my work duties. I want to assure that I follow all rules by the book.
I love how you’ve used these two words, Anna. Great examples. And your boss/coworkers are lucky to have someone who is zealous about their work. 😊